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Thursday, April 22, 2010

Hey everyone!! Today's NOTD is Zoya Charla from the recently released Sparkle Collection. Seriously, if you haven't purchased any of the Zoya Sparkles yet, do eeeeet now!!!!!!!!!! You will not regret it.

This is 3 coats plus Zoya Armor topcoat followed by Nubar Diamont and then Barielle Manicure Extender. I used the Zoya Armor topcoat in hopes that it would prevent some chipping due to Diamont (as kind of a barrier I guess). I've had a lot of issues with Zoyas chipping on me - I know the theory presented on All Lacquered Up but I simply can't do without a quick-dry top coat - I would never do manis if not for quick dry topcoats.

So what was the result? Typically, Zoyas last less than 12 hours on me, as in I apply the polish the night before and then it chips the next morning while I'm getting ready for class or work. By using Armor, I extended my polish by 2 days. I was doing a lot of housework and digging (I lost a book I need to use for one of my final papers - eek! - so I spent quite a bit of time tearing my apt. apart looking for it!), so this is groundbreaking for me. Even after the 2 days, all I have is some minimal tipwear. So to those of you who, like me, cannot do without a quick dry topcoat, try using Zoya Armor as a "barrier" between your Zoya polish and your quick dry topcoat!

Sorry for the non-moisturized cuticles - haven't gotten around to it yet on the day that I wore this!

Sunlight:

Shade:

And just for silliness, look what I keep getting distracted by:

How can I pay attention to the words on a page when this lovely is right in my face! My eyes keep drifting over to my nails! :P (The book is Desiring Arabs by Joseph A. Massad, if you're curious).

You can purchase Charla and the Zoya Sparkle collection at artofbeauty.com!

Also, Zoya is resurrecting the Zoya Nail Polish Exchange, which allows you to exchange old (or ugly lol) bottles of nail polish that you no longer want for brand new Zoyas at $3.50 each (they're regularly $7 each). I believe this program starts today, and you should be able to read more about it on Zoya's website (http://www.zoya.com/).

Hmmm, I'm intrigued by this exchange. I got those 6 green polishes when they had the promo this winter... and I'm really not loving 3 of them (the lighter ones). Maybe I'll send them back. There were a few polishes from the Flash collection that I really liked.

Have you tried using Barielle No Chip Speed Dry? It works great and is 3 free. It does not contain the chemical listed on ALU as interfering with Zoya polish adherence, either. You can double check the ingredients list online, but I'm 99% sure I looked it up the day that the post appeared on ALU.

Let your nails air dry for 2 minutes after the last coat is applied, then apply the Barielle. The application process is similar to Seche: blob, spread gently, let it set and level itself. It sets as fast (or faster!) than Seche Vite, and you should not get tip pull. You can reapply after a day or so to ensure longer wear.

I had switched from Barielle to Seche about 6 mos. ago because I was learning about products from blogs and Seche seemed to be the favorite, but I wanted to go back to 3 free. So, I retried the Barielle and it now works wonderfully. Barielle may have changed the formula in the last year, because it used to pick up some color from the nail, but no longer does. Also, I used to get more tip pull, now, hardly if any.

Have you tried the OPI Drip Dry? I can't stand it when my nails chip, almost to the point of being OCD about it so I have to have no chip topcoat. I don't like the application issues with Seche and Posh so I use one of several non-fast drying top coats (China Glaze No Chip most frequently) and I can hop in to bed 30 mins after using the DD with no worries about sheet marks. I've even managed a full mani (including removing old color) and out the door in 45 minutes or less (2 coats of base, 2 of color, top coat and Drip Dry). You do have to pick a color you know has perfect application for that though.